Senate passes Social Security benefits boost for many public service retirees

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed legislation to boost Social Security payments for millions of people. The bill is a longtime priority for former public employees. The bipartisan bill next heads to President Joe Biden. It will eliminate longtime reductions to Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million people who receive pensions because they worked in federal, state and local government, or public service jobs like teachers, firefighters and police officers. Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also further strain Social Security Trust Funds at a time when the program is approaching insolvency.